Climate Change Action Plan

Carbon market proceeds are being reinvested to boost our economy, strengthen our communities and help families and businesses save money while reducing pollution

Clean air, clean water, and a healthy environment are essential to everything we do.

In 2014, you elected us to build Ontario up. That’s why the Ontario Liberal government has made it a priority to protect our air and water and to fight climate change. The fight against climate change is a fight we can’t afford to lose — for the sake of our children, our grandchildren and our economy.

Our elimination of dirty coal generation remains the biggest largest climate change initiative undertaken in North America — it was the equivalent of taking seven million cars off the road and made our air cleaner to breathe. We passed the world-leading Climate Change Mitigation and Low-carbon Economy Act, which set science-based targets to reduce carbon pollution, established the carbon market and provided a transparent framework for reporting to the public on progress. Our Cap and Trade program is already reducing emissions, while supporting reinvestment in programs that prepare for the future and save us money. Our Cap and Trade program means we do not have to introduce a carbon tax.

Our Climate Change Action Plan:

Makes Ontario part of North America’s largest carbon market, with Quebec and California, providing more choice to companies reducing emissions, at a lower cost. The carbon market will ensure we reach our goal to reduce emissions by 15 per cent by 2020, 37 per cent by 2030 and 80 per cent by 2050.

Provides incentives to help increase the uptake of electric vehicles and low-carbon trucks and buses

Partners with municipalities to build new bike lanes and bike lockers

Helps homeowners and businesses reduce their carbon footprint and save money by providing energy efficiency rebates for such things as insulation, windows and solar panels

Commits to updating the building code with long-term energy efficiency targets for new net zero buildings by 2030 at the latest

Helps industry, including the agri-food sector, transition to low-carbon technologies through the GreenON Industries and TargetGHG programs

Commits to working with First Nation and Métis communities to co-create a transition to non-fossil fuel energy in a way that minimizes impact on the communities

Supports our clean technology sector — which has over 5,000 companies, 130,000 jobs and almost $20 billion in annual revenues — through Ontario’s Cleantech Strategy, including investments in innovation, research and development

Increases our understanding of how agricultural and natural land emits and stores carbon, and maximizes the amount of carbon storage from agriculture

Improves the energy efficiency and comfort of our schools, hospitals, colleges, universities and social housing units

The next five-year action plan will start in 2021 to keep Ontario on a path to a prosperous low-carbon economy.

The Ontario Liberal government is also helping families and businesses adapt to climate change and extreme weather. Our climate adaptation plan:

Invests approximately $20 million over three years to launch Ontario’s Climate Change Resiliency Organization, which will work with communities, private businesses and governments to help them make climate-informed decisions

Implements new rebates to help homeowners take action to protect against basement flooding

Invests $2.3 billion in green infrastructure projects to help communities mitigate and adapt to climate change, such as wastewater infrastructure upgrades